Forms and Baer ordered *-fields

It is well known that for a quaternion algegra, the anisotropy of its norm form determines if the quaternion algebra is a division algebra. In case of biquaternio algebra, the anisotropy of the associated Albert form (as defined in [LLT]) determines if the biquaternion algebra is a division ring. In these situations, the norm forms and the Albert forms are quadratic forms over the center of the quaternion algebras; and they are strongly related to the algebraic structure of the algebras. As it turns out, there is a natural way to associate a tensor product of quaternion algebras with a form such that when the involution is orthogonal, the algebra is a Baer ordered *-field iff the associated form is anisotropic.     

Isotopy and invariants of Albert algebras

Let k be a field with characteristic different from 2 and 3. Let B be a central simple algebra of degree 3 over a quadratic extension K/k, which admits involutions of second kind. In this paper, we prove that if the Albert algebras and have same and invariants, then they are isotopic. We prove that for a given Albert algebra J, there exists an Albert algebra J' with , and . We conclude with a construction of Albert division algebras, which are pure second Tits' constructions. Received: December 9, 1997.     

Division algebras of degree 4 and 8 with involution

We develop necessary and sufficient conditions for central simple algebras to have involutions of the first kind, and to be tensor products of quaternion subalgebras. The theory is then applied to give an example of a division algebra of degree 8 with involution (of the first kind), without quaternion subalgebras, answering an old question of Albert; another example is a division algebra of degree 4 with involution (*) has no (*)-invariant quaternion subalgebras. The research of the second author is supported by the Anshel Pfeffer Chair. The third author would like to express his gratitude to Professor J. Tits for many stimulating conversations.     

An Embedding Theorem for Reduced Albert Algebras Over Arbitrary Fields

Extending two classical embedding theorems of Albert and Jacobson and Jacobson for Albert (exceptional simple Jordan) algebra over fields of characteristic not two to base fields of arbitrary characteristic, we show that any element of a reduced Albert algebra can be embedded into a reduced absolutely simple subalgebra of degree 3 and dimension 9 which may be chosen to be split if the Albert algebra was split to begin with.     

On central division algebras

For any integern such that 8|n or for which there exists an odd primeq such thatq ²|n, there is a central division algebra of dimensionn ² over its center which is not a crossed product. The algebra constructed in this paper is the algebraQ(X ₁,…,X)_m, the algebra generated over the rationalQ bym(≧2) generic matrices. To the memory of A. A. Albert This paper was originally presented in November, 1971 for publication elsewhere in a volume in honor of Prof. A. A. Albert on the occasion of his 65th birthday. The volume was never published due to the death of Prof. Albert in June 1972.     

Transfer of quadratic forms and of quaternion algebras over quadratic field extensions

Two different proofs are given showing that a quaternion algebra Q defined over a quadratic étale extension K of a given field has a corestriction that is not a division algebra if and only if Q contains a quadratic algebra that is linearly disjoint from K. This is known in the case of a quadratic field extension in characteristic different from two. In the case where K is split, the statement recovers a well-known result on biquaternion algebras due to Albert and Draxl.     

Differentiably simple Jordan algebras

We prove that each exceptional differentiably simple Jordan algebra over a field of characteristic 0 is an Albert ring whose elements satisfy a cubic equation with the coefficients in the center of the algebra. If the characteristic of the field is greater than 2 then such an algebra is the tensor product of its center and a central exceptional simple 27-dimensional Jordan algebra. Some remarks made on special algebras.     

Generation of groups by rank-2 tori

Let k be a field of characteristic different from 2 and 3. In this paper, we study the number of rank-2 k-tori required (in fact exhibit such tori explicitly) for the generation of groups of type A₂, G₂ and F₄ arising from division algebras and subgroups of type D₄ of Aut(A), for A an Albert division algebra, over infinite perfect fields.     

The existence of superinvolutions

Superinvolutions on graded associative algebras constitute a source of Lie and Jordan superalgebras. Graded versions of the classical Albert and Albert–Riehm Theorems on the existence of superinvolutions are proven. Surprisingly, the existence of superinvolutions of the first kind is a rare phenomenon, as nontrivial central division superalgebras are never endowed with this kind of superinvolutions.     

Primitive idempotents in central simple algebras over Fq(t) with an application to coding theory

We consider the algorithmic problem of computing a primitive idempotent of a central simple algebra over the field of rational functions over a finite field. The algebra is given by a set of structure constants. The problem is reduced to the computation of a division algebra Brauer equivalent to the central simple algebra. This division algebra is constructed as a cyclic algebra, once the Hasse invariants have been computed. We give an application to skew constacyclic convolutional codes.     

Identities in algebras with involution

One of the main features of the theory of polynomial identities is the existence (for anyn) of a division algebra of degreen, formed by adjoining quotients of central elements of the algebra of genericn×n matrices; this division algebra is extremely interesting and has been used by Amitsur (forn divisible by either 8 or the square of an odd prime) as an example of a non-crossed product central division algebra. The main object of this paper is to obtain, in a parallel method, division algebras with involution of the first kind, knowledge of which would answer some long-standing questions in the theory of division algebras with involution. One such question is, “Is every division algebra with involution of the first kind a tensor product of quaternion division algebras?” In the process, a theory of (polynomial) identities in algebras with involution is developed with emphasis on prime PI-algebras with involution.     

Reduced models of Albert algebras

Summary We prove existence and uniqueness of reduced models for arbitrary Albert algebras and relate them to the Tits process. This relationship yields explicit noncohomological realizations of the invariants mod 2 due to Serre and Rost. We also construct nontrivial examples of Albert division algebras with nonvanishing invariants mod 2.     

Jordan Algebras Over Algebraic Varieties

General results on the module structure of Jordan algebras over locally ringed spaces are obtained. Albert algebras over a Brauer–Severi variety with associated central simple algebra of degree 3 are constructed using generalizations of the Tits process and the first Tits construction.     

Reduced models of Albert algebras

Summary. We prove existence and uniqueness of reduced models for arbitrary Albert algebras and relate them to the Tits process. This relationship yields explicit noncohomological realizations of the invariants mod 2 due to Serre and Rost. We also construct nontrivial examples of Albert division algebras with nonvanishing invariants mod 2. Received 29 August 1994 / in final form 22 February 1995     

SK<Subscript>1</Subscript> of graded division algebras

The reduced Whitehead group SK₁ of a graded division algebra graded by a torsion-free abelian group is studied. It is observed that the computations here are much more straightforward than in the non-graded setting. Bridges to the ungraded case are then established by the following two theorems: It is proved that SK₁ of a tame valued division algebra over a henselian field coincides with SK₁ of its associated graded division algebra. Furthermore, it is shown that SK₁ of a graded division algebra is isomorphic to SK₁ of its quotient division algebra. The first theorem gives the established formulas for the reduced Whitehead group of certain valued division algebras in a unified manner, whereas the latter theorem covers the stability of reduced Whitehead groups, and also describes SK₁ for generic abelian crossed products.     

Nonassociative cyclic algebras

Nonassociative quaternion algebras were first discovered over the real numbers independently by Dickson and Albert and provided some of the first examples of nonassociative division algebras. They were later classified completely by Waterhouse. Cyclic algebras can be seen as a natural generalisation of the classical quaternion algebras. With this in mind we generalise nonassociative quaternion algebras and introduce nonassociative cyclic algebras. These provide new examples of nonassociative central division algebras with Nucleus a separable field extension of degree n.     

Three-line Theorems on the Octonions

The Octonion algebra, we denote it by O, as a vector spaceover F(F=R or C), is an alternative,non-associative division algebra with the basic Octonionic units:     

Wang counterexamples lead to noncrossed products

Two famous counterexamples in algebra and number theory are Wang's counterexample to Grunwald's Theorem and Amitsur's noncrossed product division algebra. In this paper we use Wang's counterexample to construct a noncrossed product division algebra.

In the 30's, Grunwald's Theorem was used in the proof of a major result of class field theory, that all division algebras over number fields are (cyclic) crossed products. It is ironic that now Grunwald-Wang's Theorem is the decisive factor in a noncrossed product construction.

     

Zur Struktur der vierdimensionalen quadratischen Algebren

Assuming properties, which are essential for division algebras, but mostly invariant to extensions of the ground field, we investigate the structure of quadratic division algebras of dimension four over an arbitrary field of characteristic not two. We relate the size of the group of automorphisms of such an algebra A to algebraic laws valid in A, characterize Lie-admissibility by means of the skew-commutative vector algebra of A and outline the possibilities of describing A by irreducible identities of degree 3. Some results of the last chapter apply to arbitrary dimensions. We show, that a simple quadratic algebra with the right (left) inverse property for invertible elements is a composition algebra. Finally we conclude, that a quadratic division algebra of dimension four with a right (left) nucleus different from the center is associative.     

On torsion subgroups of whitehead groups of division algebras

We completely determine all torsion abelian groups that can occur as the torsion subgroup of the Whitehead group of a division algebra of prime index. More precisely, we prove that if D is a division algebra of prime index, then the torsion subgroup of K ₁(D) is locally cyclic. Conversely, if A is a torsion locally cyclic group, then there exists a division algebra D of prime index such that the torsion subgroup of K ₁(D) is isomorphic to A. Our result can be considered as a non-commutative version of May’s Theorem.